There is a lot of very unhappy club members

I certainly agree that more tent pitches should not be at the expense of other pitches.  I wonder if there is a difference between trying to obtain permission to open a caravan park as opposed to a camp site that takes mixed units?  I know that the Club finds it difficult to find suitable new Land for sites.  Is different if you include tents?  Does if differ between one local authority and another?

I'm finding this a really useful and positive discussion.  Keep the ideas and thought coming....

David 

There are slight differences between authorities but the tent issue isn't really significant David. 

Site finding is a dark art. Get the right help and things go more smoothly. And that's all I'll say without a fee 

 I thought that originally tent pitches were on CC sites due either to local planning requirements or due to lease conditions.

No idea how, when, or why I had that impression

It won't be a planning requirement. Planning can only consider what is applied for.  There's little difference to a planner between a tent and a caravan in land use terms 

It will be part of the lease or an historic agreement to provide pitches on behalf of the local authority when that was required. 

I know member only sites can be an issue - that's why some Club sites are 'open to non-members'.  Just wondering if the inclusion of grass pitches has any effect on the number of 'objections' from local residents etc - whether more object to 'caravans only'.  Just clutching at straws really... 

On the subject of the Club aiming at the 45-55 sporty types, I don't think this is the planned intention.  I think the Club is aiming to try and be more inclusive - to encourage others, but I'm not sure they have got it completely right.  I would bet that it's all 'work in progress'.  I'm not sporty and not in that age bracket.  Perhaps they are aware that they have already 'caught' a certain demographic so they are just trying to widen things a little. I can't see the wine drinking, sightseeing and sunbathing group that I belong to going anywhere particularly quickly - I don't go anywhere particularly quickly these days, and I think there are probably a good proportion of my type in the Club already.  LOL   No offense meant to anyone.

David 

Tent pitches certainly make sense if you want to attract the younger element, who cannot afford or have no current interest in a caravan. We picked sites with camping pitches available, in order for ours sons to join us. If that possibility was not there, the CAMC would be in danger of loosing both our business and our sons to the friendly club, which do cater for it.

A lot of the folk we have seen camping on club sites, have been there with others in caravans or motorhomes. If they ever decide to upgrade to hard shelled accommodation, the CAMC are perhaps more likely to get their business. 

Good point Steve.

David 

David in planning terms there's no difference between member only and non member. Planning is about land uses. 

 Where the "old club" seemed to have a problem with more sites taking tents is the lack of understanding by some of the what seems,non caravaning management, as from what i understand is a push to find more tent pitches on sites,when a "manager?" goes to a site wanting to know why the warden could not find space for tents? and when advised as a Non Facility site how can they take modern families in tents? it did not compute

Numerous sites that were once member only, are now saying non members welcome,,which in the past has been a problem with some,other types of communities,ariveing